EUSA, AUS Akademik and the Minister
LJUBLJANA – According to the Activity Plan of the European University Sports Association (EUSA), one of the goals in 2010 is also to support the developing National University Sports Associations in their functioning. Accordingly to this program, also founded by FISU, and on the Invitation of the Bulgarian University Sports Association (AUS Akademik), EUSA President Mr Alberto Gualtieri and Secretary General Mr Matjaz Pecovnik visited Sofia from September 28th to 29th, 2010. The EUSA representatives were welcomed by the AUS Akademik President Prof Peter Bonov and Secretary General Ms Kamelia Atanasova.
The intensive program started with a visit to the National Sports Academy (NSA) Vassil Levski, where a meeting with the Rector Prof Lachezar Dimitrov and the members of the Rector’s Board was held. EUSA representatives also met members of the AUS Akademik Executive Committee. In his welcome speech, Mr Bonov thanked EUSA for the visit and all the support given in the recent period. He explained that this visit could present a milestone of the new era of the university sports in his country. He added that Bulgaria has a rich tradition in the University Sports (four Universiades were organised in this country), but has during the transition period reduced its international university sports activities. Mr Bonov stressed that the newly elected board has a clear ambition to recuperate the University Sport in his country and to become one of the most active federations in Europe.
Mr Gualtieri thanked Mr Bonov for the invitation. He explained that EUSA will support the National University Sports Association in all its efforts to further develop the university sport in the country. The EUSA President stressed that in this direction the EUSA Executive Committee already took two important decisions: to attribute the 2011 European Universities Taekwondo Championship to Sofia and to financially support the running of office and establishing the IT of AUS Akademik.
After the meeting, a Press Conference was held in the National Sports Academy in the presence of the journalists, professors and students.
During their stay in Sofia, EUSA President and Secretary General accompanied by the AUS Akademik Representatives met on separately meetings with Mr Svilen Neykov, the Minister for Physical Education and Sports of Bulgaria and Mrs Stefka Kostadinova, the President of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee.
The main topics of the meetings were financing, organisation and future development of the university sport in Bulgaria. Mr Bonov presented to the authorities the activity plan of the new AUS Akademik Board and the main goals on the national and international level. Mr Gualtieri presented the activities of EUSA and different models of organisation and financing of the university sports in Europe. The EUSA President expressed a sincere wish that the Ministry, Olympic Committee, NUSA, Bulgarian Universities, Students and EUSA will work closely together in the future for the benefit of university sport.
The Minister, who was in the past very famous Bulgarian rower and coach, and who also became a student world champion in 1989 at the FISU World University Rowing Championship in Germany thanked EUSA for the support given. He assured that the Ministry will cooperate with the NUSA in order to prepare some systematic solutions for future financing the university sports. The Minister also discussed with EUSA representatives the possibilities for organisation of some other international university sports events in Bulgaria in the future.
Also the Bulgarian Olympic Committee President expressed full confidence in the new AUS Akademik Board and her readiness to support the development of university sports on all the occasions. Mrs Kostadinova, who is still the reigning world record holder in the women’s high jump with 2.09m which she jumped at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics in Rome and gold Olympic medallist from Atlanta 1996, also showed great interest in the activities of EUSA.
(Source: Andrej Pisl, EUSA Communications)
EUSA President with the Minister
EUSA President and Olympic Committee President
Meeting with the Minister
Press conference